



VISITORS' Guide 










SiTpjy ^^ J^ 






.4 C'/i-// /i; //((? National Cafiital is hit half made unless it includes the 
licnie and tfimh of iVashingtoii — Evekrtt. 



1^. 



WASHINGTON, D C. 
PRICE, 25 €TS. 




The ToMi; of Washington. 



VISITORS' GUIDE 



MOUNT yer:nton^ 



Washington was the greatest of good men and the best of great 
.men. — Edward Everett. 



FIFTH EDITION. 

Revised and Improved. 



JoUii S,t'6in £-/i 2.a.b etk J5 
.1 ; 



^ 



iilBSON BROTHERS, PRINTERS, 
Washington, D. C. 



' 0" 



An extensive traveller and witty frieud of the writer 
sweepiugly declares that '' Guide-books contain everything 
which one does not wish to know.'' 

With the hope that the brevity of the following pages will 
save this little Guide from even the suspicion of conveying 
undesirable information, the possessor is respectfully invited 
to peruse It first, and render judgment afterwards. 

It is designed simply as a practical assistant to the visitor 
to Mount Vernon, all merely patriotic or ]ioetic sentimentality 
being purposely avoided. E. B. J. 

GifU 






Copyrishted, 1876, by Elizabeth B. Johnston. 



MOUNT VEENON. 

The home of Wasbiugton is situated on the right bank 
■of the Potomac, seventeen miles south of the Capital, 
unci may be approached by land or water. Formerly, 
in cool autumn weather, it was a pleasant drive thither 
from Washington, across the famous Long Bridge, via 
the interesting old city of Alexandria, which, in the 
■solemn silence of its deserted streets and warehouses, 
and with its many dilapidated, moss-covered buildings, 
reminds the traveller of cities in foreign lands. 

From Alexandria, (about midway,) the road runs 
partly over what once constituted the Washington Es- 
tate, a princely domain of 8,000 acres. However, 
very few persons take this route, for dail}^ (Sundays 
excepted,) 

THE W. W. CORCORAN, 

a new and elegant boat, built expressly for the Ladies' 
Mount Vernon Association of the Union, leaves the 
Sixth-street wharf at 10" a. m. for Mount Vernon, re- 
turning at half-past three, which enables visitors to pass 
several hours among' the historic associations of the 
resting-place of Washington ; and, if desirable, to make 
■connection with the evening trains leaving the Capital. 
The W. W. Corcoran is commanded by Capt. L. 
L. Blake, a most agreeable, efficient, and considerate 
•officer — a gentleman who neglects nothing needful for 



the comfort or that may add to the pleasure of the 
passengers. The steamer is well adapted for the pur- 
pose, bemg fast, safe, and comfortable, and handsomely 
and tastefully furnished. The pilot-house is sur- 
mounted by a bust of Washington, carved in wood, 
after the portrait of Robert Edge Pine, and on each 
wheel-house is the river-front view of Mount Vernon, 
also in wood carving. The arrival at Mount Vernon 
is announced by the tolling bell. 

At the Mount Vernon Landing guests are courteously 
received by Supt. J. McH. Hollingsworth, who gives 
intelligent and patient attention to every question. 

The number of persons who take this trip during the 
year is very great, coming from every State of the Re- 
public, and from all civilized portions of the Avorld. 
Even the Indian delegations are unwilling to leave the 
Capital without visiting Mount Vemoii. It is an im- 
pressive scene to witness them pass before the door of 
the tomb, push their tawny hands between the iron 
bars, and pronounce in solemn dignity their character- 
istic salutation, " How ! " 

Leaving the Capital, the first object upon the left 
bank of the Potomac is the 

UNITED STATES ARSENAL, 
the grounds of which are beautiful and well kept. 
After its establishment in the early part of the century 
it served several purposes ; at one time being a military 
station, and afterwards a sort of supply depot. It was 
destroyed by the British in 1814, a number of Avhora. 



. were killed by the explosion of a quantity of powder 
secreted in a well near the quarters. After it was re- 
built it was for some time under the command of M. 
Villard, a French officer who came to the United States 
with Gen. Lafayette. In 1864 an explosion of car- 
tridges and signal-rockets in the workshop instantly 
killed twenty-one young girls, to whose memory a 
handsome monument was erected in the Congressional 
Cemetery by the citizens of Washington. A sadder 
tragedy even than this casts its shadow here — the cul- 
minating horror of the assassination of President 
Liaicoln. 

Just across the Eastern Branch, which flows into 
the Potomac below the Arsenal, is the 

GOVERNMENT INSANE ASYLUM; 

and on the Virginia shore, not far distant the Episcopal 
Seminary of Virginia forms a prominent feature of 
the landscape. This is often mistaken for " Fairfax 
Court-House," which, though near, is not visible from 
the river. 

Below the junction, on the Maryland side, is Gies- 
boro Point, which during the late Avar was used by the 
Government as a corral for horses. A little beyond 
are the Naval Powder Magazines, which were removed 
from the vicinity of the city in consequence of the 
danger to the Capitol in the event of an explosion. 
Below Giesboro Point is the river terminus of the 
extension of the Baltimore and Ohio R.Ii. 

The first landing" is at the town of 



ALEXANBEIA, 

oue of the oldest and most important ports of the Col- 
onies. It was first known as '• Hunting Creek Ware- 
house ;" afterwards as "Belhaven." In 1749 it was 
organized and governed by a board of trustees in pur- 
suance of an act of the General Assembly of the Colony 
of Virginia, and fourteen years later we find George 
Washington a member of this board. 

In 1762 it was enlarged by the addition of lots from 
the farms belonging to the Wests, Dades, and Alex- 
anders, and in 1779 incorporated as a town and 
named Alexandria in compliment to the largest land- 
holders. In 1801 it was ceded to the General Govern- 
ment as a portion of the District of Columbia. In 
1814 it was captured by the British, and in 1846 it was 
retroceded to the State of Virginia. 

Alexandria was chiefly settled by the English of the 
higher classes, who, like other colonists, indicated 
their affection for the mother country in the names of 
its streets, such as King, Prince, Princess, Duke, and 
Royal. Here, Washington had his chief social, re- 
ligious and Masonic relations, and in his will he ce- 
mented these ties by endowing a free school " for the 
purpose of educating orphan children, or the children 
of such poor and indigent persons as are unable to ac- 
complish it with their own means." Washington cast 
here his first vote in 1754, and his last in 1799. 

One can scarcely realize that this town ever rivalled 
Baltimore in commerce, but Bishop Meade says " so 
promising was it at the close of the war that its claims 



were weighed in the balance with those of Washington 
as the seat of the National Government. It is thought 
but for the unwillingness of Washington to seem par- 
tial to Virginia, Alexandria would have been the chosen 
spot, and that on the rirst range of hills overlooking the 
town the public buildings would have been erected." 
The Common Council of this town were the only official 
mourners at Washington's funeral. 

From the Potomac can be seen the old-style spire of 

CHRIST CHURCH, 

of which Washington was vestrj^man. This Church 
was built in 1783, of bricks brought from England. 
Washington's large square pew is an object of interest 
to visitors, but the silver plate bearing his name was^ 
years since stolen. Recently two memorials in white 
marble have been placed on either side of( the chancel 
— one to George Washington and the other to Robert 
E. Lee, who was also a vestryman. On one of the 
principal streets leading from the river is a large hotel. 
Part of the rear of this building, a low section, with 
three dormer windows, is the old " Carey House," 
which was occupied as the 

HEADQUARTERS OF GEN. BRADDOOK. 

Here, in 1755, George Washington was appointed his 
aide-de-camp. The room in which was held the Coun- 
cil of the Governors of Pennsylvania, New York, Mas- 
sachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, remains unchanged. 
At this time Col. Washington made his last appeal to 



Braddock before the Council, to forego civilized meth- 
ods of warfare with the Indians, previous to the pro- 
jected march on Fort DuQuesne, and the disastrous^ 
engagement of Monongahela. In this neighborhood 
is the Marshall House, rebuilt upon the site of the hotel 
in which Col. Ellsworth was shot in 1861. 

A short distance from Alexandria, at the mouth of 
Hunting Creek, is Jones' Point, where a Government 
light-house was built in 1855. 

FORT FOOTE, 

on the Maryland side, is the second landing. It is sit- 
uated on a high bluff one hundred feet above the water,. 
six miles below Washington. This work, which is an. 
enclosed barbette, was constructed during the civil war 
for the defence of Alexandria, and was dismantled' 
October 18, 1878. 

FORT WASHINGTON 
is the last landing made before reaching Mount Vernon, 
and is four miles distant therefrom. 

Fort Washington was first called Warburton, and 
its availability as a point of fortification was suggested 
to General Washington as he viewed the elevated spot 
from the eastern piazza of his home, about the year 
1790. It was blown up and abandoned in 1814 by our 
own forces, when the British troops passed up the 
river and captured Alexandria. From Fort Washing- 
ton there is a. fine view of the Capitol, the grand dome 
seeming to touch the sky. It was here that an Indian. 



9 

-was so impressed by the beauty of that wonder of 
: architecture that he exclaimed : " White man did not 
'build it ; Great Spirit made it !" 

From the same point we obtain our first glimpse of 

MOUNT VERNON. 

Here the river is two miles wide, and the Mansion 
House has a stately look, being situated about two 
hundred feet above the water. The tolling of the bell 
and the hoisting of the flag announce to the passengers 
that they are approaching the Home of Washington. 
Immediately under the bluff upon which the Mansion 
stands is the reservation of a few acres, which was for- 
merly used as a deer park. There is a proposal to re- 
establish this park, and a gentleman from Virginia has 
generously offered to stock it with deer. This, with 
many other restorations and improvement^, is only a 
. question of time. On the river front of th^ deer park 
is a landing of historic interest. The commander of 
a British vessel during the Revolution sent a boat's crew 
ashore and demanded provisions, threatening in event 
of refusal to burn the mansion. The frightened over- 
seer complied with the^ demand, thus preventing the 
destruction of the house ; but Washington wrote him 
a letter of reproof, which is still on record, ordering, 
in case of another attack, " to let everything be burned 
rather than give aid or comfort to the enemy." The 
main part of the wharf was constructed by Washing- 
ton, but it has been extended in consequence of the 
increasing shallowness of the river. From this wharf 



10 

be used to load his barges with flour ground at his owqi 
mill, the famous brand, " George Washington, Mount 
Vernon," being so favorably known at the custom- 
houses as to pass without inspection, i 

Visitors are met at the landing by the courteous 
Superintendent, and proceed up a gentle acclivity to 

THE TOMB 

of him "who was first in war, first in peace, and first 
in the hearts of his countrymen." 

To the left of the road is a high, well-wooded hill- 
side, abounding with sweet-briar, trailing arbutus, and: 
other flowers. On the right is an open park, extend- 
ing beyond the house. About half way up, in a small 
ravine, are several weeping willows, brought from the 
grave of Napoleon, at St. Helena. These vividly recall 
the immortal epigrammatic order issued by the First 
Consul to his army on the death of Washington, be- 
ginning with — 

"WASHINGTON, THE FRIEND OF LIBERTY, IS DEAD !" 

The Tomb is a plain brick structure, familiar, through' 
multiplied prints, to every school-boy in the land. It 
was built by Washington's executors, and in pursuance 
of a clause in his will designating the location, and 
saying, " it shall be built of brick." The front of the 
Tomb is unpretending, with wide, arching gateway and 
double iron gates, above which, upon a plain marble- 
slab, is this inscription : 

" WITHIN THIS ENCLOSURE REST THE REMAINS OF 
"GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON." 



11 

The anteroom to the vault is about twelve feet 
square, and here are seen the sarcophagi. The one on 
the right contains the remains of General Washington, 
and that on the left the remains of Martha, his wife. 
In the vault at the rear repose about thirty relatives, 
members of the Washington. Blackburn, Corbin, Bush- 
rod, Lewis, and Custis families. 

To this vault the body of Washington was removed 
in 1831, in consequence of a general feeling of inse- 
curit}', a man having broken into the old tomb and 
stolen a skull, which he claimed to be that of Wash- 
ington, but which proved to be of one of the Blackburn 
family. 

In the winter of 1832, Congress, for the second time, 
made an effort to effect the removal of Washington's 
body to the chamber under the crypt of the Capitol, 
originally designed for its sepulchre. 

Adams, Olay, Webster, Thomas, and even Washing- 
ton's venerable biographer. Chief- Justice Marshal], 
earnestly endeavored to secure its removal, the cen- 
tennial anniversary of Washington's birth being se- 
.lert.ed for the solemn occasion. The family, however, 
was firm m refusal, through respect for the well-known 
wish of the illustrious dead. 

The body was placed in the sarcophagus, where it 
now rests, on the 7th of October, 1837. The door of 
the inner vault was then closed, and the key thrown 
into the Potomac. 

The sarcophagi which contain the remains of Gen. 
Washington and his wife were presented by John 



12 

Struthers, of Philadelphia, and were wrought by his 
own hand, from solid blocks of Pennsylvania marble. 

Over the door of the tomb, on a plain tablet, is the 
inscrij)tion : 

"I AM THE ReSUEEECTION AND THE LiFE. He THAT 

BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WEEE DEAD, 

YET SHALL HE LIVE." 

The sarcophagus of Mrs. Washington is perfectly 
plain, with the simple words : 

Martha, 

Consort op Washington. 

Died May 21st, 1801 ; Aged 71 years. 

The sarcophagus of Washington is also plain, being 
ornamented only with the United States coat of arms, 
upon a draped flag, under which is the single word, 

Washington. 

One of the talons of the eagle, in the coat of arms, 
was broken off during the civil war by some eager 
relic-hunter, which incident suggested the outer and 
higher gate. This was the only outrage committed at 
Mount Vernon, though the unarmed pickets of both 
armies often met before the tomb — here, and here only, 
met as brothers. At the servants' request they left 
their arms at whatever point they entered the sacred 
domain, which was frequently three-quarters of a mile 
away, at the old Porter's Lodge. 



13 

THE OLD TOMB. 

The original Tomb of Washington is seen to the 
right of the path to the house, and is surrounded by a 
white railing. This spot commands an extended view 
of the river, but has not the secluded quiet of the one 
now occupied, which may have been the reason why 
Washington desired the removal of the family vault, 
which was not effected for thirty-eight years, until it 
had been entered and desecrated. 

When Lafayette was " the Nation's Guest " in 1824- 
'25, a military guard was his escort from Alexandria to 
visit this tomb — an event quaintly described by M. 
Levasseur, one of his suite. " The cannon of the fort 
thundering anew, announce that Lafayette rendered 
homage to the ashes of "Washington. * * * Simple 
and modest as he was during life, the tomb of the citi- 
zen-hero is scarcely perceived amid the sombre cy- 
presses by which it is surrounded; a vault slightly 
elevated and sodded over, a wooden door without in- 
scriptions, some withered and some green garlands, 
indicate to the traveller who visits this spot the place 
where rest in peace the jDuissant arms which broke the 
chains of this country. * * * At the door of the 
vault Mr. Custis presented Gen. Lafayette with a mas- 
sive gold ring, containing some of the hair of the 
great man." 

" THE WASHINGTON OAK." 

There stands near the path to the house a magnifi- 
cent primeval oak, measuring twelve feet in circum- 



14 

ference. Its wide shelter was a favorite resting-place 
of the retired chieftain, on returning from the wharf, 
where he was in the habit of personally superintending 
the loading of his barges. The "Washington Oak" 
has lost some of its glory in a severe storm, but the 
new growth is rapid and very beautiful. 

OLD BRIUK BABN. 

The first building reached after the ascent is a large 
old barn, erected in 1733 by Lawrence Washington, the 
brother from whom Washington inherited this estate. 
This commodious store-house was built of bricks 
brought from England. It has recently been re-roofed, 
and is in a perfect state of preservation. It will well 
repay a few moments of attention, as showing that the 
gentlemen of the "old school" were not far behind 
the present time in their ideas of shelter, and that " a 
righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." 

MANSION-HOUSE. / 

The Mansion-House is a wooden structure, the sidings 
of which are cut and painted to resemble stone. The 
central and main part was built by Lawrence Washing- 
ton in 1743, and he called it " Mount Vernon," after 
his highly-esteemed superior officer in the British navy, 
the gallant Admiral Vernon. The corner stone, with 
the initials "L. W.," may be seen in the cellar. This 
cellar is very ample, constructed according to the old- 
fashioned ideas of durability, and there seems no rea- 
son, with such a substantial foundation, why the build- 
ing should not stand five hundred years, as well as one >, 



15 



The parts of the house known as the North and 
South extensions were added by General Washmgton, 
1784-5. The residence, as left by Lawrence Washing- 
ton, had been termed a " villa ;" as enlarged, with ex- 
tensions, colonnades in front and back, by George Wash- 
ington, it was dignified as a "Mansion-House." Its 
length is ninety-six feet and its depth thirty feet. 

The east piazza extends the entire front of the house. 
It is fifteen feet wide and twenty-five feet high. Eight 
large square pillars support the roof, which is orna- 
mented by a balustrade. It is paved with flags, brought 
from the Isle of Wight, whicb are twelve inches square 
and two and a half inches thick. The curved colon- 
nades on the west side lead from the extensions to the 
family kitchen on one side, and on the other side to the 
state kitchen. 

KEY OF THE B AS TILE. 



Entering the main hall from 
the east, the first object of in- 
terest is the " Key of the Bas- 
tile," which hangs in a glass 
casket on the south wall. 

This emblem of oppression 
was presented to the " great 
friend of Liberty " by Lafay- 
ette, immediately after the 
destruction of the Bastile, 
1789, a comjDliment highly 
prized by Washington. In 
writing of it, the Marquis 




16 

said : " It is a tribute which I owe as a son to my 
adopted father ; as an aide-de-camp to my general ; as 
a missionary of liberty to its patriarch." 

This souvenir was confided to the care of that 
staunch republican, Thomas Paine, who, being de- 
tained in London, consigned it to another person, to- 
gether with a drawing of the Bastile, which had been 
ordered by Lafayette just previous to his command to 
demolish the old prison. Paine, in writing to Wash- 
ington, very happily says: "That the principles of 
America opened the Bastile is not to be doubted ; and, 
therefore, the key comes to the right place." 

The quaint wood-work wainscotings and designs of 
cornice and ceiling of this hall and the two rooms on 
either side — this being the old part of the house — will 
attract general attention. 

The old floor, being greatly worn, has recently been 
removed, and replaced by a substantial double floor, 
the under layer being of yellow pine, and the upper^^f 
solid oak with black walnut bordering. It was also 
deemed exj^edient, at the same time, to place an arch 
across the hall for the purpose of sustaining the 
upper floor, which was feared to be insecure; and 
the arch has been so designed as to harmonize per- 
fectly with the wainscoting. The ponderous old brass 
knocker on the west door of the hall, which has been 
lifted by so many illustrious guests, presents a digni- 
fied individuality, markedly in contrast with the giddy, 
jingling bell of modern times. On each side of the 
step outside the door is a pair of the once indispensar 



17 

ble " serapers," contemporary in use with the stately 
knocker. Near the door is a neat memorial which 
preserves the names and amounts donated towards the 
sum total of one thousand dollars for the " Restora- 
tion of the Colonnades and Piazza of Mount Vernon." 
"A collection was made for restoring the same during 
the years 1874 and '75. This money was mostly given 
in the names of the young, that the rising generation 
might have a deeper interest in preserving this Home 
of the Father of his Country." Underneath hangs a 
fac-simile of Lafayette's agreement to serve in the Con- 
tinental army, made in 1776 with Silas Deane, Ameri- 
can Minister at Paris. It may not be generally known 
that in this document Lafayette agreed to serve with- 
out remuneration upon condition that he should be 
allowed to return to his own country whenever called 
by his family or King. Lafayette was then only 
eighteen, and his family would not consent to his ac- 
cepting service in our army unless he received the rank 
of Major-General. 

THE EAST PARLOR, OR ilUSlC ROOM, 

has been chosen by Ohio, and tastefully furnished in 
the style of the Revolution through the efforts of the 
Vice-Regent. Over the hall-door is the coat-of-arms 
of that State, a wood carving, conspicuous in which is 
the nut and leaf of the significant buckeye. The dainty 
design of the ceiling and the delicate tints of the walls 
have been faithfully restored. The handsome cabinet 
tete a tete and chairs were manufactured in the Queen 
City. Here also is the harpsichord, Washington's bri- 



18 

dal present to Eleanor Custis, which was presented to 
the Association by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lorenzo 
Lewis. It was an elegant piece of furniture a century 
ago, and cost a thousand dollars. The large case of 
relics has been removed from this room. In this 
case are several autograph • letters, one of them to 
Col. Jonathan Trumbull, announcing the approach- 
ing marriage of Nelly Custis ; Washington's silver-hilted 
dress sword with the name of John Clark on the hand 
guard, and a silver-mounted russia-leather scabbard; 
an English flag ; Lafayette's Masonic apron ; Washing- 
ton's compass and tripod, used in his early surveys, 
and six water buckets with the name of " George 
Wafhington " painted on them in large letters. Here, 
too, is a silver-mounted rosewood flute that once be- 
longed to Washington, recently given by a relative^ 
the Vice-Eegent of West Virginia, and one of the fa- 
mous Vernon medals, struck in commemoration of the 
capture of Porto Bello, which was found June 5, 1876, 
in a garden in Dover, Delaware, and an engraved por- 
trait of the Admiral, after a painting by T. Bardwell,^ 
which bears the following inscription : 

"The Honorable Edward Vernon, Esq., Vice- Admiral of the 
"Blue. Commander-in-chief of all his Majesty's ships in the 
" West Indies." 

"To the Eight Honorable Lord Mayor, the Court of Alder- 
" men, and ye Common Council of ye City of London, this plate 
" is humbly dedicated by their most obedient servant, John 
" Taber." 

The large globe was the property of Washington, 

and in a frame is a portion of a French Revolutionary 

bed-spread, with illustrations of the storming of the 

Bastile. 




The Mantel, State Dining-Room. 



I'J 

From the east parlor, the north extension is en- 
tered. This is the old 

STATE DINING-ROOM, 

which has been selected by the Viee-Kegent of New 
York for that State, and for its day was a princely 
salon. Lafayette, Eochambeau, Hamilton, Jefferson, 
Madison, Marshall, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, 
Dr. Craik, Aaron Burr, the artists Houdon, Charles Wil- 
son Peale, Trumbnll and Pine, and many of the great 
Generals of the Revolution, honored it with their 
presence. The high ceiling is white, ornamented with 
stucco-work. The design comprises a large circular 
centre-piece, bordered with an arabesque pattern. Ir- 
regular-shaped panels complete the oblong, and in each 
panel are implements and emblems of agi'iculture. 
Enclosing all is a rich border of intertwining grape 
and laurel. The walls, of beautiful French gray, are 
finished with a deep indented frieze, decorated with^ 
festoons of leaves, and bordered with a narrow carv- 
ing, below which is a band of delicate green, with white 
stucco ornaments. 

An elaborately carved mantel-piece of Carrara mar- 
ble, with Sienna marble columns, is the chief ornament 
of this room. This exquisite work has been attributed 
to Canova. It was wrought in Italy, and presented 
to Washington by Mr. Samuel Vaughan, an English 
gentleman. On its passage from Italy it fell into the 
hands of French pirates, who, upon discovering that it 
was intended for George Washington, sent it uninjured 



20 

to its destination. It has received less respectful 
treatment from unknown land ^Dirates, for its delicately 
carved figures and ornaments have been mutilated and 
broken by relic-hunters. Strange to say, this and other 
kinds of reckless desecration are frequently indulged 
in by persons who visit Mount Vernon, in spite of the 
watchful care of the Superintendent and his associates. 
On a massive rosewood table, under a large glass 
case, with heavy silver mountings, in the centre of the 
room, is a 

I^ODEL OF THE BASTILE, 
cut from the granite stones of the demohshed prison. 
It was presented to Washington by Lafayette. Accom- 
panying it is a plan of the interior of the prison, with 
its approaches, which affords a trustworthy study of 
the celebrated old structure. 

The large plain arm-chair nov/ kept in this room came 
over on the Mayflower. The two elegant mirrors, more 
than a hundred and fifty years old, were given by one 
■of the Van Kensselaer family. 

On the mantel once stood three rare porcelain vases, 
made in India and ornamented in London, which were 
sent to Washington by the same gentleman who pre- 
sented the mantel-piece. These " China Jars," as they 
were called in the sworn list taken by the appraisers 
of the furniture, and many other ornaments and objects 
of interest, which were originally at Mount Vernon, 
are now in the Patent Office. It would be a satisfac- 
tion to the public if these and other articles of furniture 




The Harpsichord. 



21 

-und ornament could be restored tO' their places in the- 
Mansion. 

The fine specimen of sea-weed on the mantel has 
been there at least half a century, having been placed 
in its present position by John Augustine Washington. 
The liquor-case in this room was presented by Lord 
Fairfax, between whom and Washington there existed 
a peculiar friendship. Washington was only sixteen 
years old when he received a commission from Lord 
Fairfax, who was quite an old man, to make surveys of 
his property beyond the Blue Ridge. The young sur- 
veyor was so successful in this undertaking that he 
shortly afterwards received the appointment of Public 
Surveyor. 

The military equipments seen in this room were 
used by Washington in Braddock's campaign. Over 
one door hangs a finely executed copy of Stuart's 
Washington, and over another a cojDy of Trum- 
bull's portrait, representing him in Continental uni- 
form, both pictures being the work of Lambdin, a 
Philadelphia artist. Beneath the latter hangs a frame 
containing an admirable eulogy, two copies of which 
were presented recently to the ladies of the Association 
by Gen. Robert C. Schenck. 

" This tribute to the memory of George Washington 
was written at his grave in 1833 by Dr. Andrew Reed, 
an English philanthropist, and left by him with the 
ladies of the General's family. Dr. Reed asks : ' How 
could the people sufi'er Mount Vernon to pass into 
ruin? Surely it is a thing impossible !'" 



22 

Washington, 

The Brave, The Wise, The Good ; 

Washington, 

Supreme in War, in Council, and in Peace ; 

Washington, 

Valiant Discreet Confident 

•without without without 

Ambition ; Fear ; Presumption ; 

Washington, 

In Disaster, Calm; In Success, Moderate; In All, 

Himself ; 

Washington, 

Th6 Hero, The Patriot, The Christian ; 

The Father of Nations, The Friend of Mankind ; 

■who. 

When he had won all, renounced all, 

and sought, 

In the Bosom of his Family and of Nature, 

Ketirement, 

And in the Hope of Keligion, 

Immortality. 

On the west side of the room is the famous eques- 
•trian portrait of Washington, by Rembrandt Peale, 
known as 

''WASHINGTON BEFORE YOEKTOWN," 

which was presented to the ladies of the " Mount Ver- 
non Association " in June, 1873, by the heirs of that 
distinguished artist. It is a rich possession, and a 
very elegant couti-ibution. Few other pictures of the 
great man elicited so much approval from his contem- 
poraries, and this valuable canvas could not be placed 
amid more harmonious associations. It is exceedingly 



23 

•well colored, and the drawing is full of vigor and grace. 
It presents the Captain in the zenith of his glory, and 
at a moment when all the force of the commander is 
called forth in the act of rebuking a subordinate for 
perilous neglect of duty. The accompanying portraits 
of Hamilton, Lafayette, Knox, Lincoln, and Rocham- 
beau greatly enhance the picture. The elegant walnut 
frame of this painting was made from a tree grown 
upon the farm of Robert Morris, the financier of the 
Revolution. A fine oil-painting of the New York coat 
of arms has recently been contributed by the Legisla- 
ture of that State. 

THE WEST PARLOR 

has been selected by the State of Illinois, and will be 
handsomely and appropriately furnished. The cor- 
nices and brass supports for the curtains date from 
the time of Lawrence Washington, as also the small 
painting of Admiral Vernon's engagement before 
Carthagena, which hangs over the mantel. This is 
sadly discolored by age, and a piece has been torn 
from the corner, (by a woman^ I am sorry to say,) but 
the fragment was recovered, and it is hoped that the 
painting can be restored. The ornate wood-carving 
which frames this painting is an elegant specimen of 
that style of work. It rises in the form of an arch, of 
which the centre piece is a representation of the coat 
of arms and crest of the Washington family. In this 
room are an old piano and stool from Connecticut, re- 
puted to have belonged to the family of General Knox ; 



21 

Jilso, a gilt-framed mirror, with a memorial device above 
the glass, and the initials and date, " G. W., 1804." 

The selection of a room by a State confers the 
privilege of placing in it whatever mementos or furni- 
ture may be contributed from that State, as having 
historic association. This opens a repository for valu- 
able relics, and places them where they will be well 
cared for, and more generally seen than elsewhere; 
besides giving additional interest to the old home of 
Washington. Each State will probably have its coat 
of arms above the door of the room selected by it. 

The door on the south side opens into the 

FA3IILY DINING-ROOM, 

now used as a general reception-room. On the wall is 
an engraving of " Washington, on the field of Trenton, 
receiving a salute," which was executed by Wm. Holl, 
from the painting by John Faed ; also several small 
pictures and two fine engravings of General and Mrs. 
Washington, after Stuart's well known portraits. These 
were presented by Edward Everett to Miss Cunning- 
ham, "The Southern Matron," whose pen assisted Mr. 
Everett in first awaking an interest in the purchase and 
preservation of Mount Vernon. 

A valuable and interesting India ink portrait of the 
Earl of Chatham hangs over the mantel in the very 
place where W^ashington hung a large print depicting 
the death of that distinguished and earnest fi'iend of 
the oppressed Colonies. The portrait is thus inscribed 
and dated : " The Eight Honorable William Pitt, Esq'r., 



25 

One of His Majesty's most Hon'ble Privy Council, 20tli 
April, 1766." The sideboard, with knife and spoon 
cases, stood in this room in the time of Lawrence 
Washington, and were bequeathed by Martha Wash- 
ington to G. W. P. Custis, and by his daughter, Mrs. 
Robert E. Lee, presented to the Ladies' Association. 
Next east of this is the 

COUNCIL-ROOM, 

Washington's former study or library, before the ex- 
tension was built. It is probable the description he 
gave his brother Lawrence — then in the West Indies — 
of the battle of Monongahela, was penned in this little 
room. It is a spirited description of a battle, and 
remarkable, as written by one of the chief actors in it, 
without mentioning his own name. It is accepted as 
the onlj' authentic account of that sanguinary engage- 
ment written in America. 

Over the mantel is a portrait in oil, by Lambdin, of 
Miss Pamela Cunningham, the devoted first .Regent. 
There are also some cosy old chairs, a very beautifully 
embroidered screen, a quaint old buffet, and a pair 
of antique andirons. The council-table formerly be- 
longed to a brother of Washington ; this and the cover 
— on which is embroidered the Washington coat of 
arms — were presented through the Vice-Regent of 
West Virginia. 



2& 




THE LIBRARY. 

Through a small hall, the Library, or south exten- 
sion, is reached. This room was designed by Washing- 
ton, and is so plain as to seem to have no design at all. 
It is square, and has two large windows opening to 
the floor, which lead to the south portico. This portico 
has very recently been replaced, and so very exactly 
does it resemble an old structure that it is thought by 
many to be the original one. From it a fine view is 
had of the river and the lawn, containing both tombs. 



27 

In the Library is a large case with glass doors, filled 
with Mount Vernon records, which can here be pur- 
chased, and should be read all over the country in 
order that the people may duly comprehend the efforts 
of the energetic ladies who have secured Mount Vernon 
sacred to the memory of Washington forever. 

The Library is deceptive ; it is not so meaningless, 
with its simple wainscoting, as it seems. It is a room 
within rooms — in a word, three sides of it are closets ; 
seventeen are known — panel closets for silver, little 
closets in corners near the floor and near the ceiling — 
closets within closets. 

There is none of the original furniture here, and 
nothing of interest save a fine plaster-cast of the head 
of Lafayette — probably a copy of the bust ordered by 
the Virginia Legislature, 1786, from Houdon, for the 
Capitol at Richmond. 

In the days of Washington this room was by far the 
most attractive in the mansion. Aside from the inter- 
est connected with such a man's study, here were be- 
stowed some of the rarest relics of the Revolutionary 
straggle — swords, pistols, guns, the compass made by 
David Rittenhouse, spy-glasses, sashes, velvet saddle- 
housings, and numerous other articles of personal prop- 
erty associated with different campaigns. Here stood 
the "tambour secretary and circular chair," by will 
devised ''to my companion-in-arms and intimate friend, 
Dr. Craik." The "ii'on chest " stood in one corner — a 
repository of valuables ; among them were the silver 
badge of the Order of Cincinnati, the gold badge of the 



28 

same Order, presented by the Frencli officers, the gold 
medal ordered by the Contmental Congress for Wash- 
ington in 1776, the first medallic memorial of this 
country. The books, and, what were more important, 
the private papers, were bequeathed to his nephew, 
Bushrod Washington. 

The bulk of the Library was purchased by the Bos- 
ton Athenaeum in 1849, for the sum of $5,000. A large 
proportion of the books have the autograph of Washing- 
ton, others his book-plate. Books with his autograph 
are found in other libraries ; one worthy of note is in 
the State Library at Albany, New York — a volume pre- 
sented to Washington by Robert Edge Pine, contain- 
ing very rare illustrations of the costumes of the Brit- 
ish army. 

STAIBWAT. 

The stairway leading from the main hall is broad, 
but severely plain. It is divided into three sections. 
On the first landing is an old clock, a presentation from 
New Jersey. 

LAFAYETTE'S ROOM. 
{New Jersey.') 

The first room on the left, opening into the upper 
hall, is known as the " Lafayette Room," in honor of 
the Marquis, who occupied it on both of his visits to 
Mount Vernon. It was chosen and furnished by the 
Vice-Regent of New Jersey for that old State. The 
bureau was placed there when the room was fitted up 
for its distinguished occupant ; and the small dressing- 
case was in the room which Lafayette occupied at the 



• 21) 

xesidence of General Elias Dayton, whom he visited at 
Elizabethtown, New Jersey. 

Upon the walls is a small "fruit piece," embroidered 
in silk, a contribution by the descendant of the fair 
■dame who so deftly worked it during Eevolutionary 
years. 

There is an engraving of Stuart's full-length portrait 
■of "Washington, from the picture which was painted 
for the Marquis of Lansdowne, executed by Ormsby. 

There is also an engraving by Buttre, after Wollas- 
ton, from the portrait of Martha Washington, known 
as the "Bride of Mount Vernon." It is a wonderfully 
beautiful face, with the well-drawn eyes for which this 
artist was distinguished in his pictures of women, but 
is often criticised because it gives her the effect of 
being a tall woman, by reason of a false perspective of 
landscape, as she is represented as having just stepped 
from the piazza at Mount Vernon. 

A very fine engraving by Leroux hangs over the 
mantel. It is from the portrait of Lafayette by Ary 
Scheffer. It was taken from that fine portrait of the 
Marquis which his artist friend painted while visiting 
him at La Grange, and presented to the United States 
Government in 1822, and now hangs in the Hall of 
Representatives. 

The second door is the Pennsylvania. Room. The 
furniture herein was all used by Washington. Over 
an old desk hangs an engraving of the sitting statue of 
Washington, ordered by the State of North Carolina 
ifrom Canova. Washington is presented in the costume 



30 

of an old Koman, holding in his hand a stone tablet,, 
upon which he has begun to inscribe laws, and, with 
his sword under his feet, he is leaving in the past the 
chieftain and becoming the statesman. 

The inscription is — 

" GioKGio Washington. 
"Alia Grande Nazione degli Stati Uniti di America. 

"Antonio Canova." 

The small room on the east front of the hall was 
selected by the Vice-Regent of Delawake, and it is fur- 
nished with revolutionary relics. The coat of arms of 
that State is above the door. The coat of arms of 
Maktland, over the door on the south side of the hall, 
indicates the State which has chosen this room. It 
was formerly occupied by Eleanor Custis, and has been 
furnished by the Vice-Regent of Maryland, assisted by 
other ladies of that State. The wash-stand and one of 
the chairs were sent from the old Carroll seat, Dough- 
ragen Manor-House, by the grandsons of Charles Car- 
roll of Carrollton, 

Leaving this apartment, the next room is the one 
selected and being fitted up by the Vice-Regent of 
West Virginia for that State. The windows open upon 
the piazza, giving a wide view of the noble Potomac 
and the dark outline of the Maryland shore beyond. 
The Vice-Regent, Mrs. Ella Bassett Washington, is a 
descendant of the Washington and Dandridge fami- 
lies, and the articles of furniture which she places here 
are all revolutionary relics. The large handsomely 
carved bedstead came from Eltham, on the York river,. 



31 

the residence of Colonel Bassett, brother-in-law of 
Martha Washington. It stood in the room always oc- 
cupied by Washington, and upon it John Custis, the 
only son of Mrs. Washington, died. Young Custis was 
aide-de-camp to Washington, who, at the time of his 
fatal illness, was at Yorktown. He arrived at Eltham 
■"' time enough," he wrote to Lafayette, " to see poor 
Mr. Custis breathe his last." He was very devoted to 
his stepson, and, turning to his young widow, he said : 
^' From this hour I adopt your two younger children 
as my own." These were Eleanor Parke Custis, two 
years and a half old, and George Washington Parke 
Custis, about six months old ; and, through the fatherly 
<5are of the great chief, they never had occasion to re- 
alize that they had been so early left orphans. 

The two elegant mahogany chairs were once the 
property of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Decla- 
ration of Independence, and were afterwards owned by 
his grandson,. President Harrison. Another chair be- 
longed to William Augustine Washington, one of the 
executors of Washington's will, and the antique mu-ror 
was owned by Washington's brother, Samuel Washing- 
ton, of Harewood. A v aluable contribution is one of 
Durand's rare engrav ings of Stuart's Washington. 

THE ROOM IN WHICH WASHINGTON DIED. 

Passing from the West Virginia room, through a 
•small hall, the apartment in which Washington died is 
entered. It is a medium sized bedroom. On the right 
is a large fireplace, in which is observed the Washing- 



32 

ton coat of arms. On the left is a dressing-room and 
an ample linen closet ; on the south are two large win- 
dows which may be slid back into the wall, and reach 
to the floor. They open upon the top of the portico, 
and command a beautiful view. The bedstead is the 
one upon which Washington died, and the bed is 
dressed as it Avas durinsr his lifetime. 




The drapery, presented by Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson, 
hung in a chamber at Rose Hill, the seat of Thomr.s 
Johnson, first governor of Maryland, who, in the Con- 
tinental Congress, nominated George Washington for 
commander-in-chief of the army. There are here two 
gilt brackets and a gilt-framed mirror matching them, 
with a superb inlaid secretary used by General Wash- 



33 

ington at Mount Vernon — all entrusted, through the 
Vice-Regent of Virginia, to the care of the Ladies' 
Association by Gen. G. W. P. Custis Lee. The old 
bureau, which the zealous public has deprived of its last 
brass knob, was at Washington's headquarters on the 
Hudson, and was presented by Mrs. Hasbroucke. 

The small stands and the stately andirons in the 
fireplace were in use in this room at the time of Wash- 
ington's death. The dimity chair- cover was embroid- 
ered by his niece, Frances Washington Ball, and pre- 
sented by her grandson's wife, the Vice-Regent of 
Virginia. The portrait of Washington was copied by 
Elder from an original miniature, which was owned by 
Washington's brother, Colonel Charles Washington, 
and is now in the family of a grand-nephew, Judge 
Ball, of Virginia. On the wall is an interesting relic — 
a newspaper published in New York, in which was the 
first announcement in that State of the death of Wash- 
ington. Its decorous utterances of most profound grief 
are quite Addisonian, and illustrate the stilted ceremo- 
nial of the times. 

Mercantile Advertiser, N. Y., 

Saturday, Dec 2isr, 1799. 
We feel a fenfation of forrow which no language of ours can lufficiently 
defcribe when we record the difcreffing intelligence that 
On Saturday, the 14th inftant, 
Died Suddenly 
At his feat, Mount Vernon, in the State of Virginia, 
GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the 
United States of America, 
"A Corinthian Pillar in the Temple of Immortality!" 
Mature in Years, 
Covered with Glory, 
and rich in the affections of the American people. 



(Reader, whoever thou art, in whatever part of the world refident, 
mourn with us the death of the friend of liberty and man; the faviour of 
his country, the defender of her rights— the warrior, the Itatefman, and 
the private citizen; who never fwerved from the paths of rectitude in 
the tour of duty, never arrogated to himself unwarrantable power, though 
placed in fituations to command it, and whole every action tended to the 
public good, from his early days to the end of his existence. It were in 
vain for us to attempt to delineate all the virtues of this great man in a 
newspaper paragraph ; to thole more acquainted with the particulars of 
his life we refign the talk of enumerating each particular excellence, but 
to us it belongs to record in general terms the good qualities fo univer- 
fally refpected, whether in public or retired life. In the field, in the 
cabinet, or af a private individual of the community, he commanded uni- 
verfal admiration and efteem. In every fenfe of the worJ, he was a man 
whofe like we Ihall probably never again be permitted to fee, and whole 
virtues will be held in everlalting remembrance.) 

The following is the most particular account of this mournful event 
we have yet seen : 

Extract of a letter from Alexandria, dated December ic^th. 

" I mention to you the truly melancholy event of the death of our 
much beloved General George Washington. He made his exit last 
night between the hours of 1 1 and 12, after a ihort but pamful illnefs of 
23 hours. The diforder of which he died is by fome called Crupe, by 
others an Inflammatory Quinfey, a diforder lately fo mortal among chii- 
dien in this place, and I believe not until this year known to attack per- 
fons at the age of maturity. 

"My information I have from Dr. Dick, who was called in at a late 
hour. Alexandria is making arrangements to fhow its high efteem for 
him. We are all clofe to our houfes, and act as we fliould do if one of 
our family had departed. The bells are to toll daily until he is buried, 
which will not be until Wednefday or Thurfday. He died perfectly in 
his fenfes, and from Dr. Dick's account perfectly refigned. He informed 
them he had no fear of death, that his affairs were m good order, that he 
had made his will, and that his public bufmefs was but two days behind- 
hand." 

Virginia lias very appropriately selected this room 
in which her greatest son died. A small stairway leads 
to the room above, used by the 

WIDOW OF WASHINGTON 
from the day of his death until May, 1801, a year and 
a half afterwards, when she, too, died. 



35 

This room has one jDiece of the original furniture, 
the small plain mahogany wash-stand ; but it has re- 
•cently been very elegantly refitted by Mrs. Mitchell, 
Vice-Regent from Wisconsin. Every piece of furniture 
has been reproduced in mahogany. The carpet, of home 
manufacture, has been replaced by rugs, made in this 
country in the style of those days. The old gay calico 
bed-hangings are copied in softest woollen cretonne, 
and lined with rose-colored rep-silk. These hangings 
are finished with fringe and caught with heavy cord and 
tassels; the elegant chairs are upholstered with the 
same material ; the pillow-cases are reproduced with 
an embroidered crest, and the initials, M. W. Upon a 
JBible-stand in the room is the coat of arms, with motto, 
" Exitus acta prohat" and on one of the bureaux is a 
work-box and a pair of small white vases, decorated 
with a simple spray of rose-colored hyacinth. 

Martha Washington was a woman distinguished even 
among those dames of strong character whom the trials 
of the Revolution developed. She was beautiful, in- 
telligent, dignified and practical. She was often with 
her husband at headquarters, and in after time said she 
had heard the first and the last gun of every campaign 
during the seven years' struggle. The soldiers were 
devoted to her, never forgetting how she cheered and 
encouraged them at Valley Forge, at Moi'ristown, and 
at West Point. A model Virginia housewife, presiding 
over her generous board with a gracious charm peculiar 
to her, and through which she won the admiration of 
^11 who knew her as wife of the Chief Magistrate. As 



36 

wife and mother her tenderness and devotion crowni 
her with the true glory of womanhood. 

During the eighteen months that she survived her 
beloved husband the lonely mom-ner passed most of 
her time by the window of her room, with often no 
other companion than her pet cat, for the convenience 
of which a corner of the door had been cut off, enabling 
the dumb friend to come and go at will. There, in 
a room without fire, even in winter, but tenderly cared 
for by domestics, she sat by the window, because 
from it alone could she command a view of her hus- 
band's resting place : 

" Gazing through the morning's light, 
At noon-tide, looking fondly down — 
Peering forth in sombre night — 
Or when the leaves are green or brown ; 
Or when the snow soft shrouds the mound, 
Where lies the sleeper under ground." 

"Looking and longing ever there, with faith 
That in some golden hour, his spirit, robed 
In drapery of light, and winged with love, 
Should come to her with blessings in his eyes, 
And sweetly feed, with old-time rapturous smiles, 
Her famished soul. O, wondrous, wondrous Love ! 
Which dieth not with death, nor yet hath life 
Save with the living. Thou Mystery of Universe !" 

There are five small rooms on the third floor. These- 
rooms, which are half stories, are lighted by dormer 
windows. One has been furnished by a Connecti- 
cut lady, and contains a beautifully carved old-time 
bedstead, two elegant chairs, a bureau, and a quaint 
shaving-glass, all of which are solid mahogany. 

The linen in this room was spun and woven by an 










Mount Vernon Mansion, 1S38. 
IVest Front. 



37 

-old lady from that State, sixty-five years ago. Another 
room has been selected for the District of Columbia, 
by its Vice-Regent, and furnished by citizens of the 
District. Of the furniture, two chairs once belonged 
to "Washington, the bureau was owned by the Calvert 
family, and the bedstead and looking-glass are a hun- 
dred years old, the latter having been in use at " Mt. 
Airy," the home of the Tayloe family in Virginia. 

CUPOLA. 

From the small square hall is a winding stairway to 
the cupola, which is octagonal. 

The view from this elevation is sweeping and grand. 
The Potomac seems almost to surround the estate in 
its majestic bend. Fort Washington appears to have 
drawn nearer. Looking west, the Virginia hills are 
beautifully defined, and three-quarters of a mile away 
is seen the old porter's lodge, which marks the bound- 
ary of the present estate. Leading thither, from the 
lawn gate, is an avenue, spoken of by Lossing as be- 
dng a pleasant drive in former days. From this the 
undergrowth has been recently removed and the trees 
trimmed, so as to leave an unobstructed view of the 
lodge ; .and it is proposed to soon restore the drive, by 
gravelling this avenue. 

WEST LAWN. 

Leaving the house from the west door, the interest 
that Washington personally bestowed upon domestic 
Hclaims is fully realized. All that could contribute to 



38 

the happiness of his dependants or the pleasure of his 
friends was a matter of conscience with him. Agricul- 
ture in its higher and lower branches was an endless 
source of delight to him. 

From either extension on the west side there is a 
curved colonnade ; on the right hand is the " Office," a 
house a story and a half high, a room of which was also 
used to cook the great dinners in, as the appliances of a 
large fireplace indicate. Opposite is the family kitchen, 
where the daily meals of the family, white and black, 
were prepared. 

The immense fireplace, the crane, the low Dutch, 
range, the large hominy mortar, show that the require- 
ments of the cook were neither small nor unheeded. 
In this room, also in tents outside, a good and a rea- 
sonable lunch can be had by the visitors, while from 
a stand near the door views of Mount Vernon are sold. 
But a step outside the kitchen is the well from which 
it was the pride of " West Ford," an old servant of the 
estate, to hand to visitors a cup of cold water. The 
last of these servitors has long since gone the way of 
all the earth. Near this side of the kitchen-door are 
the " milk-house," " meat-house," and " wash-house," 
while on the east slope stood the " summer-house," 
and the old " ice-house," built with its " spring-house " 
beneath. These having fallen into ruin, it would be in 
excellent taste to restore them. On the west, close to 
the kitchen, is the "butler's house," at the corner of 
which stands the famous magnolia grandiflora, brought 
by Washington from the banks of the James, and 



•30 

planted by bim in the year of bis death, 1799. It has 
attained unusual proportions for the climate, and yearly 
puts forth its creamy bloom. The leaves of this tree 
have been taken as mementos to every part of the civi- 
lized globe. 

The west lawn is a driving park, entered through the 
arched gateway at the end of the avenue from the port- 
er's lodge ; the curved course serves not only for a 
general approach to the house, but being more than a 
half mile in circumference, in former times afforded 
distance for a pleasant ride, and the thicket of trees on 
either side gave grateful shade, and it was not infre- 
quently used for children or invalids of the household. 

Through this gateway Washington brought his fair 
bride to Mount Vernon ; and beneath the same arch, 
forty years afterwards, slowly filed the long train of 
mourners that attended his funeral. 

On each side of the entrance is a large mound — a 
favorite lawn-ornament of that day — and the trees of 
the thicket were all selected by Washington, many of 
them having been planted by him when a young man. 
His interest in them was unceasing. They are hem- 
lock, Spanish chestnut, poplar, gum, mulberry, aspen, 
pine, beech, linden, mimosa, wild cherry and Ken- 
tucky coffee-tree, brought from that State by order of 
Thomas Jefferson — all now in a flourishing condition. 

FLOWER GARDEN. 

On the right of the lawn is the flower-garden ; on 
the left the vegetable garden. Each of these was 
flanked by a large orchard. 



40 

Not far from the entrance of this driving park and 
lawn, are two octagonal rifle-towers, built very early for 
defence against Indians, as their embrasures for rifle- 
men indicate. 

Four magnificent trees, each of its kind perfect, 
guard the entrance to the flower garden. Two are 
ash and two are poplar, or the American tulip tree. 
They were planted by Washington with exact measure- 
ment, and have in a century done wonderful credit to 
the early care he gave them. 

Immediately within the flower-garden are four very 
large calycanthus trees, or sweet shrub. These were 
sent to Washington by Thomas Jefferson as a great 
novelty of that day. When they were a generation old, 
John Augustine Washington named them after the four 
Presidents, who, in regular rotation, succeeded his il- 
lustrious uncle — Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Mon- 
roe. 

The flower-garden is bordered and divided by hedges 
of box, [buxus sitffndicosa,) preserved in the exact 
designs in which they were planted by Washington. 
Some of them seem to have been intended for initials 
of names and others Masonic emblems. 

Bordering the main walk in this garden is a species 
of hydrangea, which was brought over by Lafayette 
in his visit in 1824, and by him planted in his old 
friend's garden. This came originally from the grave 
of Napoleon. It is a hardy, beautiful flowering shrub. 

Mr. W. W. Corcoran, who, as all the world knows, is 
best pleased when doing a good a,nd a graceful thing. 



n 

lias given to the Association a large number of foreign^ 
evergreens — Austrian pine, Swiss pine, Norway fir,. 
European silver fir, golden arbor vitse ; also, a hand- 
some variety of rhododendrons from the same firm in 
London, whose exhibit of that shrub received such 
merited attention at our Centennial Exhibition. This 
valuable contribution was planted under the supervision 
of Mr. Wm. Saunders, the eminent horticulturist. The 
garden contains crape myrtles, shrub magnolias, cen- 
tury plants, intermixed with the simplest modest flow- 
erSy from daisy to lily. Large numbers of the rose 
called " Mary Washington " are yearly raised and 
readily sold ; some years as many as three hundred. 
This rose, a seedling raised by General Washington 
and named for his mother, is a delicate tea-rose, and 
quite an acceptable souvenir to the visitor. At the 
end of the central walk is the new greenhouse, built 
and partially supplied by an appropriation from Con- 
gress. This stands on the site of the original Wash- 
ington conservatory, which was destroyed by fire De- 
cember, 1835. On that disastrous night very few of 
the rare plants were saved, among them a large bearing 
lemon tree, a century plant, and a Sago palm. Of these 
now there only can be seen part of the body of the cher- 
ished old palm, though there is a hardy young growth 
from it. 

In the greenhouse the visitor has opportunity to 
select a remembrance of Mount Vernon, and will have 
the satisfaction of knowing that the small sum expended 
for a bouquet or plant increases the income of the 
Association. 



42 

SOURCES OF REVENUE. 

The entrance fee is one of the chief sources of 
revenue to the Association, and is embraced in the fare 
paid for the trip to and from Mount Vernon. A hke 
small amount is required from those who enter the 
west lawn, or either side, by land. The profits of 
the lunch-table add to the income; also, the sale of 
photographic views, of " Mount Vernon Sketches," by 
Mrs. Great orex, of the "Visitors' Guide," and of copies 
of the " AVill of Washington." The original will, which 
was written entirely by himself, and bears his auto- 
graph at the bottom of each page, can now be seen 
among the records of the County Court of Fairfax. 

This will is dated July 9, 1799, and was doubtless 
written in the summer of that year. It was drawn 
without the aid of a lawyer, and is one of the most re- 
markable papers of its kind on record. It was admitted 
to probate in the county of Fairfax, January 20, 1800, 
being presented in open court by three of the executors. 
On March 22, 1853, the Virginia legislature granted to 
Alfred Moss, county clerk, the piivilege of lithograph- 
ing the will, but for some reason he never carried out 
his design. In July, 1861, when the Confederate army 
retreated from Fairfax Court-house, Mr. Moss carefully 
enveloped the will, with this indorsement : 

' ' The original will of General George Washington. 
" Belongs to the records of Fairfax County Court. To be re- 
turned to me, or any one legally authorized to receive it. 

"ALFKED MOSS, 
" Clerk Fairfax County Court." 

With other county records it was then sent to Eich- 



43 

mond aud committed to the secretary of the Common- 
wealth, in whose care it remained until 1865, when it 
was returned to Fairfax county. From age and fre- 
quent handling it has become indistinct and mutilated, 
and on account of its condition the court at its Novem- 
ber term, 1865, passed the following order: "It ap- 
pearing to the court that the original will of General 
George Washington, of Mount Vernon, has been much 
worn and mutilated from frequent handling, and that 
it is liable to further injury from the same cause, it is 
ordered that the clerk of this court purchase, at the 
expense of the county, a suitable case, in which he is 
directed to deposit the said will." This arrangement 
gives the curious the opjDortunity — which is often im- 
proved — of seeing the last will and testament of 
Washington. 

In 1868 the will was copied aud published, as it was 
too much worn to admit of its being lithographed, and 
thousands of these authenticated copies have been 
given to the Association by W. W. Corcoran. To this 
pamphlet, which contains many interesting historical 
facts, I am indebted for the above data. 

Lossing's handsome volume, " The Home of Wash- 
ington," can be bought here. This work is grace- 
fully dedicated by the author : 

" To ras ' 

Patriotic Countkywomen, 

BY WHOSE efforts 

The Home and Tomb of Washington 

HAVE been rescued FROM 

Decay." 



44 

Many little incidents detailed in its pages give the 
domestic character of Washington, and its concise 
descriptions of the manners and customs of a century 
ago are clear and life-like. 

The products of the farm, the raising of fine cattle, 
the cultivation of fruit of all kinds, especially new varie- 
ties, are, more than all other means, relied on to keep 
the estate in the order required by the " Act to author- 
ize the purchase of Mount Vernou," which act passed 
the Virginia legislature unanimously March 17, 1856. 

The amount paid for the estate of two hundred acres 
was two hundred thousand dollars. 

Of this sum $68,494.59 were a contribution from 
Edward Everett, the proceeds of his great lecture upon 
the "Life and Character of Washington," and his writ- 
ings for the N'eto York Ledger. 

At present the condition of the farm is as follows : 
Peach orchard of eighteen acres, just coming into full 
bearing ; also, a mixed orchard of nectarines, plums, 
apples, cherries, and apricots. Four acres are devoted 
to the kitchen-garden; twenty-seven acres to different 
varieties of grain, leaving as a lawn ten acres ; fifty in 
wood-land ; ninety-one for j)asturage. The Superin- 
tendent has labored to make it a model farm, giving 
especial attention to fine stock. Notwithstanding these 
numerous sources of revenue, the outlay is yearly very 
large to keep even in repair such an estate and to 
guard it as carefully as required. 

Among the latest improvements are the repairing of 
^he wharf, at a cost of nearly $1,000 ; the re-roofing of 
the old barn, which was last repaired under the direc- 



45 

tion of Washington in 1799; the restoration of the 
mason-work at the east and west entrances, the por- 
ters' lodges, and the gates. 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

It will be seen that the office of Superintendent is 
by no means a sinecui'e. Not only all sources of reve- 
nue, improvements, and expenditiu'es come under his 
personal and responsible supervision, but the reception 
of guests during the yeai-, numbering not unfrequently 
two hundred daily, devolves upon him. The Associa- 
tion may be congratulated that it receives in its 
Superintendent's labors the services of a gentleman of 
lu'banity, patience, and integrity ; and the resolution 
of the Council expressing thanks " for the fidelity and 
success " with which he discharges his duties fully in- 
dicates that his untiring efforts are appreciated. 

Col. J. McHenry Hollingsworth is a descendant 
from distinguished Kevolutionary ancestors, and was 
an officer in the United States Army during the Mexi- 
can War. It would be difficult to select a gentleman 
more peculiarly adapted for the position, endowed as 
he is with a profound reverence for the character of 
Washington. 

THE COUNCIL, 

consisting of the Regent and Vice-Regents, meets yearly 
in May or June at Mount Vernon, to transact all busi- 
ness connected with the estate, such as auditing ac- 
counts, making contracts, ordering improvements, re- 
ceiving the report of the Superintendent. In addi- 
tion, there is a joint session, when the Council and the 



40 

Advisory Board selected by the ladies meet with the 
Board of Visitors appointed bj' the State of Virginia to 
overlook the condition of the estate and to report if 
the provisions of the purchase are complied with. 

MOUNT VERNON'S FUTURE. 

Doubtless the pilgrimage to Mount Vernon is yet 
in its incipient state. As the old homestead recovers 
from its long neglect; as intended restorations and 
suggested improvements are yearly made ; as the con- 
tributions of interesting relics increase — and especially 
when it becomes generally understood that a clause in 
the act passed by the Virginia legislature secures this 
spot forever sacred to Washington — will the interest 
be more universal and the visitors increase. 

Clause 4th of the act is as follows : 

" The said property herein authorized to be pur- 
" chased by the said Mount Vernon Ladies' Associa- 
" tion of the Union shall be forever held by it sacred 
^' to the Father of his Country ; and if, from any cause, 
" the said Association shall cease to exist, the property 
" owned by said Association shall revert to the Com- 
" monwealth of Virginia, sacred to the purposes for 
" which it was originally purchased." 

During the Centennial year the number of visitors 
was forty-five thousand — from two hundred to nine hun- 
dred per diem. 

Although the sentiment prompting by far the larger 
number to visit the home and tomb of Washington is 
that of reverential admiration for the chieftain's life 
and character, yet this class of visitors are occasionally 
shocked by the out-spoken, would-be witty utterances 



47 

of the thouglitless and the coarse, even upon a spot 
that should, at least, command respectful observance. 
Some persons, in their eagerness for relics, have 
knocked off the stucco ornaments of the walls, broken 
the frames of the old mirrors, and injured rare shrub- 
bery which has been imported and presented to the 
Association at a large expense. 

PROTEST! 

Lawless peoj^le should understand that authority is 
vested in the Superintendent, by the State of Virginia, 
to protect the premises and punish offenders, as the 
reading of the following warning, which is posted in 
conspicuous places, indicates : 

PLACARD. 

" Visitors are respectfully informed that they cannot 
be allowed to injure the shrubs, flowers, or herbs." 

A little reflection would induce visitors to be more 
considerate of those attached to the estate who, they 
may be assured, desire to be obliging and kind to all. 

Every American citizen should feel a personal care 
of what is a national heritage, and look upon whoever 
wears a Mount Vernon badge as commissioned to 
guard this possession. 

The Council, at their last meeting, (1878,) au- 
thorized the adoption of a uniform for the employes, 
consisting of a navy-blue blouse, with brass buttons^ 
leather belt and buckle, and a black hat with the name 
Moutit Ve7'no7i in gilt letters on a blue ribbon band. 



• 48 ' 

THE TOLLING BELL 

of each passing steamer, as it reverberates from hill to 
hill, but re-echoes the voice of all ages and all people 
in doing honor to such greatness as is found in the life 
of George AVashington. 

' ' Slowly sailing, slowly sailing, hushed the music, mute the 
mirth, 
Men and maidens standing reverent on some broad altar's 

hearth. 
******* 

" Silently before Mount Vernon, silently our boat glides on, 
Hushed its iron heart's deep panting past the Tomb of Wash- 
ington ; 
Truest, worthiest act of worship that degenerate earth now 

knows. 
Inmost soul here recognizing all the mighty debt she owes. 

" Oh, my country, art thou paling — losing all thy young day's 
glow ? 

Can'st thou lose thy first love's glory, and thy hero's worth still 
know ? 

Patriot hearts, do doubts still haunt you, threatening thoughts 
come crowding on ? 

Sail with me down broad Potomac, past the Tomb of Washing- 
ton; 

" Feel the impress of his greatness stamped upon the Nation's 
heart. 

See each manly brow uncovered, lovely lips in awe apart ; 

Fear not while this reverence lingers with its clear, warm, 
hallowing light ; 

This must fade from brow and bosom ere can come our coun- 
try's night." 

[Mrs. R. Cary Lous:, Literary World, Feb. 17, 1849. 

This expression of respect was first given by the com- 
mander of an English fleet — Commodore Gordon — who, 
when passing Mount Vernon on the 24th of August, 
1814, ordered that the bell of his flag-ship, Sea-Horse, 
should be tolled. Human greatness never received a 



49 

higher recognition than this act of reverence. Our 
own countrymen are less demonstrative than foreign- 
ers, who are never seen v/ith covered heads before the 
Tomb of Washington. 

THANKS. 

To "The Southern Matron," and "The Northern 
Orator," first belong thanks unceasing for the purchase 
and care of the home and tomb of Washington. To 
the Kegents and Vice-Regents for their unflagging en- 
ergy and devotion is due a second and increasing debt 
of grateful approval. 




View of Fort Washington from the Piazza at Mount Vernon. 



50 

OFFICERS OF THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION. 



TVIrs. J. Scott Laugliton, Washington, D. C. 

VICE-EEGENTS. 

Arkansas : Mrs. Caroline L. Scott. 

California : Mrs. Magdalen G. Blauding. 

Connecticut : Mrs. Susan E. J. Hudson. 

District of Columbia : Mrs. Mary F. Barnes. 

Delaware : Mrs. Margaret A. Comegys. 

Florida : 

Georgia : Mrs. Philoclea Edgewortli Eve. 

Illinois : Mrs. Elizabeth Willard Barry. 

Indiana : Mrs. Hannah B. Fitch. 

Iowa : Mrs. Anna P. Dillon. 

Kansas : Mrs. M. H. Ward. 

Kentucky : Mrs. Rosa Vertner Jeffries. 

Louisiana : 

Maine : Mrs. Margaret J. M. Sweat. 

Maiyland : Miss Emily Harper. 

Massachusetts : 

Mississippi : Mrs. William Balfour. 

Missouri : 

New Jersey : Mrs. Nancy W. Halsted. 

New York : Mrs. Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend. 

North Carolina : Mrs. Letitia Morehead Walker. 

Ohio : Mrs. Elizabetli Lytle Broadwell. 

Rhode Island : Mrs. Abby Wheaton Chace. 

.South Carolina : Mrs. Lucy Holcomb Pickens. 



51 

Tennessee : IVIi's. Aaron V. Brown. 

Texas : Mrs. Maverick. 

Vermont : Mrs. J. Gregory Smith. 

Virginia : Mrs. Emma Reed Ball. 

West Virginia : Mi*s. Ella Bassett Washington, 

Wisconsin : Mrs. Alexander Mitchell. 

SECRETARY OF COUNCILS. 

Mrs. Sweat. 

RESIDENT SECRETARY AND SUPERINTENDENT. 

Col. J. McH. Hollingsworth. 

TREASURER. 

Mr. George W. Riggs, Washington, D. C. 

ADVISORY BOARD. 

Mr. W. W. Corcoran, District of Columbia ; Gen. N 
N. Halsted, New Jersey ; Judge Charles B. Ball, Vir- 
ginia ; Mr. Clarkson N. Potter, New York ; Judge 
Joseph P. Comegys, Delaware. 

BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA FOR 1878. 

Judge Thomas, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Mr. J. Mussey 
Forbes, Judge Henry W. Thomas, Major Burr P. No- 
land. 



Post Office Established at Mt, Vernon in 1878v. 




OBJECTS OF INTEREST IN WASHINGTON, D. Cl 



Executive Mansion, Pennsylvania Avenue, between 

Fifteenth and Seventeenth sts. 
State Department, Seventeenth street, between F st. 

and New York Avenue. 
Navy Department, Sixteen-and-a-half street, south of 

Pennsylvania Avenue. 
War Depaktment, Sixteen-and-a-half street, south of 

Pennsylvania Avenue. 
Treasury Department, Fifteenth st., corner Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue. 
Interior Department, F st. between Seventh and 

Ninth sts. 
Post Office Department, E st. between Seventh 'and 

Eighth sts. 
Department of Justice, Freedman's Bank Building, 

1507 Pennsylvania Avenue. 
Department of Agriculture, on the Island, opposite 

Thirteenth st. 
Pension Bureau, corner Pennsylvania avenue and 

Twelfth St. 
Patent Office, F st. between Seventh and Ninth sts. 
Congressional Printing Office, corner North Capitoll 

and H. sts. 
National Observatory, E st. north, opposite Twenty- 
third st. west. 
Navy Yard, on Eastern Branch, foot of Eighth st. 
Arsenal, foot of Four-and-a-half st. southwest. 

52 



53 

■Coast Survey Building, New Jersey Avenue, south of 

Capitol. 
Smithsonian Institution, on the Island, opposite Tenth 

street. 
•Congressional Cemetery, one mile east of Capitol. 
Washington Monument, Fifteenth st. 
U. S. Botanic Gardens, between First and Third sts 

west. 
Masonic Temple, corner Ninth and F sts. 
National College, Kendall Green. 
Providence Hospital, corner Second st. east and D st, 

north. 
Corcoran Gallery of Art^ Seventeenth st. 
Soldiers' National Cemetery, Virginia side of Potomac 

river, opposite Georgetown ; reached via Long 

and Aqueduct bridges. 
Soldiers' Home, reached via Seventh-street road. 
Howard Institution, Seventh st., beyond Boundary. 



1 



THE STEAMER 

GORCOSaJ. 

Which has heen recently built and furnished, 

Is the only Boat allowed to land Passengers 
at Mount Vernon Wharf. 




Including admission to Mansion and Grounds. 



STEAMER leaves Sixth-Street Wharf DAILY (Sundays ex- 
cepted) at 10 A, M., and returns about 3 p. m. 

J. McH. HOLLINGSWORTH, 

Sitp't Ladies' Mount Vernon Association 
L. L. BLAKE, 

Captain IV. IV. Corcoran. 



List of Photographs Published by 

N.G.JOHNSON, 

300 KTiiitli Street N"ortliwest, "WasYiington, D. C, 

FOR THE 

Ladies' Mount Vernon Association. For Sale on the Boat, W. 'W. 
Corcoran, and at the Mansion-House. 



1. The Tomb of Washington. 

2. Mansion, East Front. 

3 . Mansion, West Front. 

4. The Porch and View to Kiver. 

5. The Family Kitchen. 

6. Fire-place in Family Kitchen. 

7. The Old Tomb of Washington. 

8. The Butler's House and Magnolia Tree. 

9. The Gai'dener's House. 

10. The Old Brick Barn. 

11. The South Gate to Flower-garden. 

12. View in Flower-garden, showing Lemon Tree with ripe^fruit, 

13. The Conservatory, (cabinet size.) 

14. The Old Washington Oak Tree. 

l.'S. The Boat-House and Roadway to the Tomb. 

16. View from Tomb to Boat-House. 

17. View from Old Brick Barn to North Arched Gate. 

18. View of Potomac River from East Poi-ch. 

19. View from Cupola of Mansion to Porter's Lodge. 

20. View of Porter's Lodge at the west gate. 

21. The Mount Vernon Boat. " W. W. Corcoran." 

INTERIOR VIEWS OF MOUNT VERNON. 

22. Washington's Bed and Room where he died. 

23. Fire-place and Secretary in Washington's bed-room. 

24. Mrs. Washington's bed-chamber. 

25. Room occupied by Nellie Custis. 

26. Room occupied by Gen. Lafayette when at Mt. Vernon. 

27. A room used as a guest chamber in Washington's time. 

28. State Dining-Room. 

29. Marble Mantel in State Dining-Room. 
•30. East Parlor. 

■31. West Parlor. 

32. Hall and Stairs. 

33. The Family Dining-Room. 

34. Mrs. Washington's Sitting-Room. 

35. Wash-Bowl and Pitcher used by MartTia Washington. 




l2l7-l2l9Penna.Ave.,WASHlNGT0N,D.C. 



PHOTOGEAPHS, FRAMES, IVORY TYPES. 

PORCELAIN, GLACE. 



PHOTOGRAPH COPIES OF MRS. FASSETT'S 

*' Electoral Commission Painting," 
" The Supreme Court," 

and other " Celebrities," 



ON .SALE AT 



C. ADELE FASSETT'S STUDIO, 

114 CORCOR,a:N- 33UILDIN&, cor. IStli St. & I^a. ave. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Francis B. Mohun, 



SUCCESSOK TO' 



MOHUN BROTHERS, 

Bookseller, Importer and Stationer, 

1015 Pennsylvania Avenue, 

(Corner Eleventh Street,) 

AVashmgton, !>. C 



BLANK BOOKS MADE TO ORDER. 

standard Editions of English and American Works in Fine 
Bindings. 

Scliool-Books and Stationery. 
Importations direct from Europe. 

Oia Estahlished 

Ladies' and Gentlemen's 

iDy ster Saloon anb Restaurant, 

"^"flOie PENNA. AVE. AND; ELEVENTH ST.;;;^ 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 

T' LisJ . * iiiliili tl 

The Largest Oyster House in the United" 8tates_ 

All brands of the finest oysters that the briny deep can produce are served" 
5jl [.with every imaginable dish that can be called for. j , 

Tmm I^ABIES' SAI^OOH I , 

Is one of the handsomest in all its appointments, and is conducted especially 

for them. 

OPEN FROM 6 A. M. UNTIL MIDNIGHT. 

OYSTERS, TERRA-FIlSr & GJ-^MIE » specialty' 

HARVEY & HOLDEX, Prop'rs. 

" H AR VE Y," the Originator of the Steamed Oysters. 
57 



ART SCHOOL 



^tf ll«|lt» ^tt ftWii 



ii^.^,i 



The Classes for the Second Season, 1880- 1881, will open 
October 4, 1880, and close June 18, 1881. 
The present Season closes June 19, 1880. 

Apply, for circulars or information, to— 

E. C. IVLESSER, 

IN CHARGE, 

Vernon Row, Washington, D. C 
JNO. L. BURNETT, 

ASSISTANT. 



E. H. MILLER, 



Artist. 



STUDIO, HOT' Peiinsylvaiiia Arv^. 



WASHINGTON, D. O. 



W@M':tmMI'S'^' I'E« ©SAY'®!* AMW') @S&. 



■W^IX-jL^^I^rD'S HOTEL 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 














This Is the ninst ctiitnll\ 1 it 1 h fl in W hinetnn Tnd the t( 1 nowledged fiist class hotel 
of the city Hiving betii ciituelj lefiii iiishcd iiiid ichtted, it now hab all the modern improve- 
ments for the accoinmnd uton uid convenience of guests, and is kept as a stiRtlj hrst class hotel. 
Open all the >ear. 

BKESIjIN & COOKE, Proprietors. 



W. A. FENWICK. 



\V. WOOD GARNER. 



FENA\^TC K & a^RlSrJER. 



4^ 



Agents for the Celebrated 



And Dealers in 



LADIES' AND GENT'S FINE FURNISHING GOODS. 
KID GLOVES a specialty. 



614 Ninth Street N. W. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



/ 



JORDAN 



tt ttTT Tt t ttttT 



ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, VA. 



Apply for Pamplilets and Circulars 



. JT, OO 



A-t the SprinsSi 

Or n^iiycxLTOisr HOUSE, 

Cor. 14th and K streets N. 'W. 

WASHINGTON. D. V. 



^< 



iOnOHT. 



CASH paid for all kinds of BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, &c., at 



ANGLIM'S Antiquarian Book Store, 



1424 F Street, (Cokcoran Building.) 



Washington, D. C. 



We usually have many valuable and some rare and curious 
Books on sale, at moderate prices, and have recently added to our 
stock one of the largest and most valuable collections of Pamphlets 
in the United States, about 16,000 in number, chiefly Americana, 
belonging to the estate of the late S. R. Phillips, of Philadelphia. 



\ 



